Reviews & Tips for Smart Parents with Babies & Toddlers

Review: Moo Moo Kow™ One-Size Cloth Diapers

I received a Moo Moo Kow™ One-Size Snap Diaper (Mint Green) and a Moo Moo Kow™ One-Size Aplix Diaper (White with Blue Snaps) from Abby (who owns Babe Hause and developed the Moo Moo Kow™ brand) to review, in conjunction with Mummy’s Reviews first Giveaway.

Moo Moo Kow™ is a new cloth diaper brand registered in Singapore (my hometown, yeah!) and manufactured in China. Like many parents, I am cautious in using products made in China on Baby V and myself. When the diaper samples reached, my husband and I were wowed by them! Each diaper was professionally packaged with clear washing instructions (essential in ensuring the long life-span of cloth diapers) and looked yummy-licious!

The next thing that impressed me was the two HUGE microfibre inserts that came with each diaper. One insert is large; the other even LARGER, which make each diaper pack seem great value for money.

The listed price of each diaper including inserts is S$30 or RM73, with discount on packaged bundles. Similar one-size diapers would cost about 17% more. For a mum building a new stash of cloth diapers, the savings would be very significant.

Most importantly, the diapers function as well as they look — they are easy to put on (since I am familiar with one-size diapers), have gentle elastics and held on well without any leak through 3 to 4 hours, when Baby V would be changed. I love the dryness provided by the inner suedecloth (as compared to microfleece which feels damp). There aren’t many one-size diapers that uses suedecloth.

By mere chance, for the sample snap diaper, the laminate separated from the outer fabric. After I notified Abby, she discovered that this was confined to a particular batch of diapers. Being the usual honest Abby, she immediately checked with customers who have bought similar diapers, was relieved that their diapers were perfectly fine and provided assurance for exchanges should the laminate separate.

By the way, I have learnt this from other cloth-diapering mothers: to seal the PUL for some diapers, you may try throwing them into the dryer for one hot cycle.

Moo Moo Kow™ Snap or Moo Moo Kow™ Aplix?

When Baby V was younger, I enjoyed the convenience of using diapers with Aplix/Velcro tabs, which can provide the perfect fit. Now that he tries to roll over/stand/jump/crawl away during diaper changes, I find snaps much faster in getting the correct fit. It is wise to get a mixture of Aplix or snap diapers to find out for yourself which type you prefer.

From personal observation, Aplix diapers are preferred by Dads, Grannies and first-time cloth-diapering Mums. If you intend to use the diapers on several children, then snap diapers may be able to last longer.

What I like about them:

Outer PUL fabric is the breathable type*

Inner suedecloth layer stays dry

Elastics at the back of the suedecloth layer keeps messes in

Choice of snap or Aplix to fit different preferences

One large and one extra-large microfibre inserts included for high absorbency

Attractively-priced at S$30 or RM73, including two huge inserts

What can be improved:

Only plain colours available — add cute prints?

To get your own Moo Moo Kow™ diapers, visit the list of retailers here or participate in the Giveaway.

* PUL fabric comes in breathable and non-breathable types. The manufacturer has confirmed that breathable PUL fabric is used to make Moo Moo Kow™.

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Update after 6 months of use:

Our Moo Moo Kow™ Snap and Aplix diapers still perform as good as new. I find myself using the Snap diaper more regularly than the Aplix one to prevent the tab from wearing out. This way, I could reserve the Aplix diaper for my future baby.

Due to the value-for-money bundle and attractive packaging, Moo Moo Kow™ cloth diaper is currently my favourite baby shower gift to introduce new parents to modern cloth diapering. Several friends have converted to using cloth diapers for their babies and a Daddy friend just bought 12 pieces for his son!

Hi, I have a question: Can the cloth diapers be washed using Washing Machine and Tumble-dried? If the baby poos, will it stain the suede cloth layer and therefore you have to wash the diaper insert as well as the diaper itself? Does it dry fast naturally or is there need for a dryer after washes? Thanks and sorry to bombard you with so many questions… I’m an ignorant first time mommy-to-be… Considering my options for BB =P

Hi Stella, thank you for visiting.
– Yes, modern cloth diapers can be washed using washing machine and tumble-dried. I have been doing that for 16 months.
– If baby poos, the suede cloth layer would be contaminated, so both the diaper and the insert need to be replaced.
– If baby pees, the suede cloth layer keeps baby dry, so a diaper change is needed only every 2-3 hours (or when diaper is full) in the day.
– For sunny weather in Singapore and Malaysia, sunning would dry the inserts in about 4 hours and helps to remove stains. The pocket diaper dries quite fast.
– On rainy days, the inserts may need 2 days to dry. Moo Moo Kow cloth diapers come with 2 inserts, which is very useful during wet days.
– With sufficient diapers & inserts to rotate, there would be no need to use the dryer. I wash daily and need about 10-15 cloth diapers to rotate. For newborns who poo more, you may use traditional square nappies with covers as backups. More information on cloth-diapering a newborn can be found here.

I also spent a lot of time finding out about modern cloth diapers during pregnancy. Congrats on your pregnancy and all the best!

Hi Cynthia, a suitable night-time cloth diaper depends on several factors:
– child’s skin sensitivity: for very sensitive skin, my boy gets rashes after more than 4-5 hours in PUL diapers, so he must wear breathable fleece overnight.

– child’s output: for light to medium wetters, 2 microfibre inserts in a pocket diaper can last overnight. For heavy wetter (like my boy), he needs fitted diapers (with all-rounded absorbency even at the waist area) and highly-absorbent inserts that include hemp.

After he outgrew the Medium diapers and output increased, I started using pocket fitted diapers (GAD or Happy Hempys by Happy Heinys) with Knickernappies SuperDo insert and Dancing Bears Bear Bottoms fleece shorts. It’s a thick combination yet the only one that can last him over 12 hours with no leak and rash. (Btw, at 9 months old, he’d leak through Mamy Poko pull-up pants after a few hours at night thought these last many children overnight.)

Hi,just want to check with u, i’m now using MMK for my baby since she’s 2 months old. I came across ur review about sgbum,tat u mentioned the elastic part wont not leave any red marks ard the thigh there. But the MMK that i’m using now seems always leaving red marks on my baby thighs there. Is it that i snap too tight? But if i didnt snap tightly,it will leak! Do u find that the MMK suede cloth some parts very absorbent,some parts still like haent season yet.. That makes the leakage happen. Before i use the MMK,i prewash 10times yet it still not absorbent esp for the suede cloth layer there… So i keep washing and washing for almost 1.5 months,finally it got better, but it’s very fed up for the 1st two months,cos leakage for poo n pee happen almost every hours.. Have u experience such situation before? Can u please guide me on this?

After using many diapers, I find that red marks depends. For most diapers, slight red mark is still ok, just slight compression from the elastics, as long as no pain / discomfort to baby.

Snap settings:
When wearing the diaper, it has to be snug, that means no gap when baby’s thighs move about, else will leak easily. Hopefully not done too tightly. Small baby can often be “in between” snap settings, either too loose or a bit too tight. Choosing the correct snap takes some trial and error. (One alternative is to have some velcro / aplix diapers for a better fit.)

Prewash:
I only had to prewash my MMK 3 times and they started absorbing. Similar feedback from other Mummies. So far, I’ve very good experience using MMK.
What detergent are you using? (Preferably cloth diaper-safe detergent)
Are you using any diaper cream? (Preferably none, or cloth diaper-safe type with disposable liner)
Do you wash by hand or washing machine? (Preferably washing machine for more thorough rinsing and less detergent buildup)

Hi,
Tks for review, this is really helpful. I have been using MMK for a while n realize that it leaks. After reading yr review, I might have made some mistake in handling this cloth diaper.

May I know, if accidentally softener is being used can yr strip method still work? Also, when I wear this diaper on my bb, the leak could be found on the outer colored portion of the diaper. Is this caused by the repelled from the PUL fabric or the insert?
If the diaper is soiled must I wash it immediately. Currently, my helper has soaked it overnight before she wash. What is the recommended hours it can be soak before it has to be wash?

If softener has been used, build-up could have occurred on both:
– the stay-dry suedecloth (white) layer and
– the inserts
So you’ll need to strip wash both the pocket diapers and inserts.

If the diaper is soiled, you need not wash it immediately.
For newborn with explosive breastfed poo, I leave all soiled diapers in a dry pail, then spray them the following morning.

For older baby with more solid poo, usually I deal with it straight after. Shake the solid poo into the toilet, spray the diaper clean, wring dry, then leave in a dry pail. It’s also ok to leave it in a dry pail and deal with it later, just that it may take longer to spray the surface clean. Any “stain” should be gone after machine wash and drying under the sun.

I don’t recommend soaking PUL diapers because this could weaken the PUL layer, causing delamination and leaks. At most, soak for 1 hour, then wring dry.

Personally, I’ve never soaked PUL diapers and they’re stain-free after machine wash and drying under the sun, used over 2 kids.